Berlin-based Picture Tree Intl. has acquired the international sales rights, excluding the Nordic countries, for the Finnish daughter-father comedy “Butterflies” (Perhoset).
“Butterflies” is directed by Jenni Toivoniemi, based on a screenplay by Anna Brotkin.
Set against the backdrop of Finland’s vibrant Tango Festival, “Butterflies” follows the journey of Siiri, a world-weary 29-year-old woman, and her relentlessly optimistic father, Petri, as they navigate their own truths amidst the chaos. Ultimately, the true dance they engage in is one of self-discovery.
Siiri is played by Aksa Korttila, whose credits include “Sibelius Continuum,” “The Sixth Time” and “The Year of the Wolf.” Petri is played by Jani Volanen, who was in “Hatching,” “Homecoming” and “Dogs Don’t Wear Pants.” Leea Klemola, who appeared in “The Mine,” “The Midwife” and “Last Cowboy Standing,” plays Siiri’s politician boss, who is in the midst of a marital crises.
“Butterflies” is produced by Miia Haavisto of Tekele Productions,...
“Butterflies” is directed by Jenni Toivoniemi, based on a screenplay by Anna Brotkin.
Set against the backdrop of Finland’s vibrant Tango Festival, “Butterflies” follows the journey of Siiri, a world-weary 29-year-old woman, and her relentlessly optimistic father, Petri, as they navigate their own truths amidst the chaos. Ultimately, the true dance they engage in is one of self-discovery.
Siiri is played by Aksa Korttila, whose credits include “Sibelius Continuum,” “The Sixth Time” and “The Year of the Wolf.” Petri is played by Jani Volanen, who was in “Hatching,” “Homecoming” and “Dogs Don’t Wear Pants.” Leea Klemola, who appeared in “The Mine,” “The Midwife” and “Last Cowboy Standing,” plays Siiri’s politician boss, who is in the midst of a marital crises.
“Butterflies” is produced by Miia Haavisto of Tekele Productions,...
- 4/19/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Finland’s Tekele has announced that a second season of Yle original youth series “The Short Fuse” is in the works.
Directed by Jani Ilomäki, also behind police series “Roba,” it will be written by Pilke Salo, Milla Tuokkola and Janne Vanhanen and shot over June-July 2024, eyeing a 2025 release on Yle Areena.
Starring are Pyry Rautiainen, spotted in Selma Vilhunen’s drama “Little Wing,” Minttu Halttula and Elsa Lagerstedt.
“International interest has been very wide,” said producer Julia Elomäki, singling out French-speaking territories.
“Once again, the show is handling harsh and timely themes with honesty. Given the excellent reception of the first season, it proves there is a point in making ambitious series for younger audiences.”
Directed by Petra Lumioksa, the show’s first outing gained a lot of traction on social media as well.
“Especially on TikTok,” noted Elomäki.
“I have always considered the young audience to be important.
Directed by Jani Ilomäki, also behind police series “Roba,” it will be written by Pilke Salo, Milla Tuokkola and Janne Vanhanen and shot over June-July 2024, eyeing a 2025 release on Yle Areena.
Starring are Pyry Rautiainen, spotted in Selma Vilhunen’s drama “Little Wing,” Minttu Halttula and Elsa Lagerstedt.
“International interest has been very wide,” said producer Julia Elomäki, singling out French-speaking territories.
“Once again, the show is handling harsh and timely themes with honesty. Given the excellent reception of the first season, it proves there is a point in making ambitious series for younger audiences.”
Directed by Petra Lumioksa, the show’s first outing gained a lot of traction on social media as well.
“Especially on TikTok,” noted Elomäki.
“I have always considered the young audience to be important.
- 2/3/2024
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Banijay Benelux’s Belgian banner Jonnydepony has set rising star Willem De Schryver from Netflix’s YA hit show” High Tides” (“Knokke Off”) for the title role of “I Was a Cop in the 80s,” ordered by Amazon Prime Netherlands and Flemish streamer Streamz.
The period crime drama in development will be pitched by seasoned showrunner Philippe De Schepper, co-writer Bas Adriaensen and producer Helen Perquy (“Tabula Rasa”) as part of a Focus on Flanders at Göteborg’s forthcoming TV Drama Vision (Jan. 30-31). Wim Geudens is directing.
Perquy said that with their new premium show, De Schepper and Adriaensen were keen to depict via a character-driven story, the world of the gendarmerie [Belgium’s former paramilitary police force] in the turbulent 1980s, when the country was shaken by criminal gangs, such as the notorious ‘Brabant Killers’. The gendarmerie’s slack law enforcement measures against the gang behind 28 killings, prompted theories that the military-based police force...
The period crime drama in development will be pitched by seasoned showrunner Philippe De Schepper, co-writer Bas Adriaensen and producer Helen Perquy (“Tabula Rasa”) as part of a Focus on Flanders at Göteborg’s forthcoming TV Drama Vision (Jan. 30-31). Wim Geudens is directing.
Perquy said that with their new premium show, De Schepper and Adriaensen were keen to depict via a character-driven story, the world of the gendarmerie [Belgium’s former paramilitary police force] in the turbulent 1980s, when the country was shaken by criminal gangs, such as the notorious ‘Brabant Killers’. The gendarmerie’s slack law enforcement measures against the gang behind 28 killings, prompted theories that the military-based police force...
- 1/26/2024
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
REinvent International Sales has inked a raft of deals across its slate of high-concept series, including “Transport” (pictured) and “Enemy of the People,” rolling off of MipTV.
The company has sold both “Transport,” which is penned by Auli Mantila (“Silver Stars”), and the Icelandic comedy series “Ordinary People” to AMC Networks Southern Europe for Spain and Portugal.
“Transport” is an eight-part TV show following a young journalist investigating a chip found in baby food. She crosses paths with an insurance investigator and a bank manager who are both connected to the case. The series stars Emmi Parviainen (“Shadow Lines”), Maria Heiskanen (“Everlasting Moments”), Pirkko Hämäläinen (“Devil’s Bride”) and Geert van Rampelberg (“De Infiltrant”). Miia Haavisto (“Tom of Finland”) and Tia Talli (“Nurses”) at Tekele are producing “Transport.”
“Ordinary People,” which is produced by Glassriver, follows the ups and downs of a friendship between two young women entering adulthood and...
The company has sold both “Transport,” which is penned by Auli Mantila (“Silver Stars”), and the Icelandic comedy series “Ordinary People” to AMC Networks Southern Europe for Spain and Portugal.
“Transport” is an eight-part TV show following a young journalist investigating a chip found in baby food. She crosses paths with an insurance investigator and a bank manager who are both connected to the case. The series stars Emmi Parviainen (“Shadow Lines”), Maria Heiskanen (“Everlasting Moments”), Pirkko Hämäläinen (“Devil’s Bride”) and Geert van Rampelberg (“De Infiltrant”). Miia Haavisto (“Tom of Finland”) and Tia Talli (“Nurses”) at Tekele are producing “Transport.”
“Ordinary People,” which is produced by Glassriver, follows the ups and downs of a friendship between two young women entering adulthood and...
- 4/6/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Finland has responded to a spike in demand for its content with a slew of new series. As revealed by Laura Kuulasmaa, executive director at Audiovisual Producers Finland (Apfi), over 30 will be released this year alone, a 20% uptick on 2018.
“Compared to eight, ten years ago, when there were maybe only five scripted series per year, the increase has been huge,” she tells Variety ahead of French TV festival Series Mania’s “Focus on Finland” showcase.
The Film in Finland cash rebate has facilitated international investments and growth of the budgets, she notes.
Matti Paunio, head of production at the Finnish Film Foundation, adds:
“I think the biggest trend overall is the diversification of subjects and points of view. Scripts and series are more courageous, they take on different genres more often than ever. Production is booming, but apart from the quantity, we are also providing quality.”
According to Paunio, about 47% of writers,...
“Compared to eight, ten years ago, when there were maybe only five scripted series per year, the increase has been huge,” she tells Variety ahead of French TV festival Series Mania’s “Focus on Finland” showcase.
The Film in Finland cash rebate has facilitated international investments and growth of the budgets, she notes.
Matti Paunio, head of production at the Finnish Film Foundation, adds:
“I think the biggest trend overall is the diversification of subjects and points of view. Scripts and series are more courageous, they take on different genres more often than ever. Production is booming, but apart from the quantity, we are also providing quality.”
According to Paunio, about 47% of writers,...
- 3/18/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
As the industry starts paying closer attention to Finnish films and talent – following the Cannes success of Juho Kuosmanen’s “Compartment No. 6” and Zaida Bergroth’s crowd-pleasing “Tove” – Finnish TV drama is next in line, argued the participants of the Berlinale Series Market Focus on Finland drama showcase. Kuosmanen premiered short-form series “Zone B,” which he co-created, at the Red Sea International Film Festival in December.
“We have seen a rise in Finnish stories, because as content creators and writers, we got to be a little bit braver,” said Minna Panjanen, now behind “Next of Kin”. “The truth is, everyone needs content right now. It’s almost a mathematical impossibility to say what would be the next big thing – we all saw it with ‘Squid Game’. But we need to be braver in order to stand out.”
In “Next of Kin”, set in the near future – the series is...
“We have seen a rise in Finnish stories, because as content creators and writers, we got to be a little bit braver,” said Minna Panjanen, now behind “Next of Kin”. “The truth is, everyone needs content right now. It’s almost a mathematical impossibility to say what would be the next big thing – we all saw it with ‘Squid Game’. But we need to be braver in order to stand out.”
In “Next of Kin”, set in the near future – the series is...
- 2/16/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
“You’re a horse person?” a Belgian stable owner asks Johanna, a young Finnish journalist delving into the discovery of a microchip in a baby’s meat patty at a Helsinki daycare center. Only creator-director Auli Mantila’s own horse affiliations as a qualified farrier may explain in part one of the most singular of entries at this year’s Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize: “Transport.”
This is Scandinavian crime drama, but “ordi-noir,” Mantila told the Nordisk Film & TV Fond newsletter, in that it “happens in broad daylight, involves people with no special talent or trauma, and takes place in locations anyone could just walk in.”
It also addresses a massive but little explored subject, turning on pan-European food fraud which embroils three women: Marianne, a by-the-book bank loans exec forced to money launder earnings of a sinister food import company; an insurance investigator checking the disappearance of a...
This is Scandinavian crime drama, but “ordi-noir,” Mantila told the Nordisk Film & TV Fond newsletter, in that it “happens in broad daylight, involves people with no special talent or trauma, and takes place in locations anyone could just walk in.”
It also addresses a massive but little explored subject, turning on pan-European food fraud which embroils three women: Marianne, a by-the-book bank loans exec forced to money launder earnings of a sinister food import company; an insurance investigator checking the disappearance of a...
- 1/31/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Helsinki-based Tekele has unveiled the international trailer of its first premium crime drama “Transport”, which is in the running for this year’s Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize for best Nordic TV screenplay. The prestigious award will be handed out Feb. 2 during Göteborg’s two-day TV Drama Vision confab.
Created and directed by Prix Europa winner Auli Mantila (“Silver Stars”), “Transport” is repped by REIvent International.
The eight-part series delves into the criminal activity of horsemeat trafficking and money laundering in Europe. It’s about ordinary people, under pressure, who somehow get involved, while a young journalist investigates the case of a microchip found in baby food. Toplining the show are Emmi Parviainen (“Shadow Lines”), Maria Heskanen (“Everlasting Moments”), Ville Virtanen (“Bordertown”) and Geert van Rampelberg (“De Infiltrant”).
“Transport” is the first major European premium TV show produced by fast-expanding Tekele, founded by seasoned producer Miia Haavisto. Speaking about her Belgium co-production partners Jonnydepony,...
Created and directed by Prix Europa winner Auli Mantila (“Silver Stars”), “Transport” is repped by REIvent International.
The eight-part series delves into the criminal activity of horsemeat trafficking and money laundering in Europe. It’s about ordinary people, under pressure, who somehow get involved, while a young journalist investigates the case of a microchip found in baby food. Toplining the show are Emmi Parviainen (“Shadow Lines”), Maria Heskanen (“Everlasting Moments”), Ville Virtanen (“Bordertown”) and Geert van Rampelberg (“De Infiltrant”).
“Transport” is the first major European premium TV show produced by fast-expanding Tekele, founded by seasoned producer Miia Haavisto. Speaking about her Belgium co-production partners Jonnydepony,...
- 1/24/2022
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
Showrun by Oscar-nominated Danish director Lone Sherfig, “The Shift” will battle it out with Series Mania top winner “Blackport” and Canneseries winner “Countrymen” for 2022’s 6th Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize.
Also in contention are Finnish crime drama “Transport” and psychological thriller “Vi y Villa,” an early show from Sweden’s Discovery Plus.
All five titles, however diverse, underscore the strong social issue drive of much upscale Nordic and indeed European drama, affording a snapshot of larger tensions coursing society at large.
Winners of the Nordic TV Drama Screenplay Award, which goes to a show’s main writer, will receive a €20,000 cash prize, announced during the Göteborg Film Festival’s TV Drama Vision, a highlight of the festival, on Feb. 2.
“Good scripts form the basis of our strong Nordic drama series,. Writing talents should be cherished every day and celebrated through script honours and awards,” commented Liselott Forsman, CEO of...
Also in contention are Finnish crime drama “Transport” and psychological thriller “Vi y Villa,” an early show from Sweden’s Discovery Plus.
All five titles, however diverse, underscore the strong social issue drive of much upscale Nordic and indeed European drama, affording a snapshot of larger tensions coursing society at large.
Winners of the Nordic TV Drama Screenplay Award, which goes to a show’s main writer, will receive a €20,000 cash prize, announced during the Göteborg Film Festival’s TV Drama Vision, a highlight of the festival, on Feb. 2.
“Good scripts form the basis of our strong Nordic drama series,. Writing talents should be cherished every day and celebrated through script honours and awards,” commented Liselott Forsman, CEO of...
- 12/14/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Finland’s Tekele Productions, composed of Julia Elomäki, Miia Haavisto, Marja Pihlaja and Tia Talli, will present three new projects at the Finnish Film Affair this year. “Bad Women” will be shown in the Fiction in Progress section, Variety has learned, while Ulla Heikkilä’s “Viva la Vida” – about a Finnish expat family living in southern Spain – and “The Beast Friend” will make their way to Fiction in Development. The latter, described as a “bedtime story for adults,” and set to premiere in 2024, will see director Lauri-Matti Parppei exploring a rather unusual bond forming between a struggling artist and a massive bear.
Mia, whose life is crumbling, gets hired as a personal assistant in an isolated mansion in the Finnish archipelago. The deal seems to be clear: She needs to keep the house warm, and clean up the rooms, except for one. One night, she breaks her promise. But instead...
Mia, whose life is crumbling, gets hired as a personal assistant in an isolated mansion in the Finnish archipelago. The deal seems to be clear: She needs to keep the house warm, and clean up the rooms, except for one. One night, she breaks her promise. But instead...
- 9/15/2021
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
The Berlin Festival’s Finnish Shooting Star 2015 Emmi Parviainen (“Shadow Lines”), seasoned actor Maria Heiskanen (“Everlasting Moments”), Pirkko Hämäläinen (“Devil’s Bride”) and Belgian actor Geert van Rampelberg (“De Infiltrant”) are headlining the eight-part TV show “Transport.” Prix Europa winner Auli Mantila will serve as its showrunner.
Lensing the show is veteran DoP J-p Passi, multi-awarded for the film “The Happiest Day in the Life of Olly Mäki” and second unit DoP on “Chernobyl.”
Veteran producer Miia Haavisto (“Tom of Finland”) and Tia Talli (“Nurses”) of Tekele are producing for Finnish pubcaster Yle. Belgium’s Philippe de Schepper (“Black-Out”) and Jonnydepony’S Helen Perquy, an executive producer on “Tabula Rasa,” are co-producing. Nordic global distributor REinvent Studios picked up the show in February.
Producer Haavisto said “Transport” stands out as a crime drama set in the food trade. “It’s the tale of ordinary people under immense pressure, all of...
Lensing the show is veteran DoP J-p Passi, multi-awarded for the film “The Happiest Day in the Life of Olly Mäki” and second unit DoP on “Chernobyl.”
Veteran producer Miia Haavisto (“Tom of Finland”) and Tia Talli (“Nurses”) of Tekele are producing for Finnish pubcaster Yle. Belgium’s Philippe de Schepper (“Black-Out”) and Jonnydepony’S Helen Perquy, an executive producer on “Tabula Rasa,” are co-producing. Nordic global distributor REinvent Studios picked up the show in February.
Producer Haavisto said “Transport” stands out as a crime drama set in the food trade. “It’s the tale of ordinary people under immense pressure, all of...
- 10/10/2020
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
Finland’s Auli Mantila writes and directs.
Rikke Ennis’ REinvent Studios has boarded sales for suspense drama Transport, as Berlinale Series Market wraps up today (Feb 26).
Finland’s Auli Mantila writes and directs. Producers are Miia Haavisto and Tia Talli, of Finland’s Tekele Productions. Haavisto is a seasoned producer who has also worked on films including Miami, Tom Of Finland and Unknown Soldier. Co-producers are Helen Perquy and Philippe de Schepper of Belgium’s jonnydepony.
The 8 x 50’ series will start shooting in September, in Finnish and English. It explores money laundering and food fraud across Europe, particularly involving horse transport,...
Rikke Ennis’ REinvent Studios has boarded sales for suspense drama Transport, as Berlinale Series Market wraps up today (Feb 26).
Finland’s Auli Mantila writes and directs. Producers are Miia Haavisto and Tia Talli, of Finland’s Tekele Productions. Haavisto is a seasoned producer who has also worked on films including Miami, Tom Of Finland and Unknown Soldier. Co-producers are Helen Perquy and Philippe de Schepper of Belgium’s jonnydepony.
The 8 x 50’ series will start shooting in September, in Finnish and English. It explores money laundering and food fraud across Europe, particularly involving horse transport,...
- 2/26/2020
- by 1100142¦Wendy Mitchell¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
London-based sales agency Film Republic has boarded Finnish film “Eden” as it prepares for the European Film Market in Berlin. The company has released a teaser for the film.
“Eden,” the debut feature film by Ulla Heikkilä, is produced by Miia Haavisto from Tekele Productions. It will be released in Finland in the summer by Nordisk Film.
A coming-of-age film about a religious summer camp, Eden tells the story through the eyes of three youths who are torn between ideology, independence and falling in love.
Heikkilä said: “It’s been a wonderful experience to be making a coming-of-age film. For me, youth is condensed humanity: it’s almost like being an adult but not having had the time to get used to all the drama that life consists of. The bliss and the pain of growing up move me, maybe because I’m still feeling both all the time. I...
“Eden,” the debut feature film by Ulla Heikkilä, is produced by Miia Haavisto from Tekele Productions. It will be released in Finland in the summer by Nordisk Film.
A coming-of-age film about a religious summer camp, Eden tells the story through the eyes of three youths who are torn between ideology, independence and falling in love.
Heikkilä said: “It’s been a wonderful experience to be making a coming-of-age film. For me, youth is condensed humanity: it’s almost like being an adult but not having had the time to get used to all the drama that life consists of. The bliss and the pain of growing up move me, maybe because I’m still feeling both all the time. I...
- 2/10/2020
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Industry@Tallinn and Baltic Event titles revealed.
The projects selected for Tallinn Black Nights’ industry showcase have been revealed, including a drama executive produced by Tim Roth and a new category for youth films.
Scroll down for full list of projects
This year’s Industry@Tallinn and Baltic Event will spotlight 18 films seeking sales agents or festivals for international premieres during works in progress sessions in the Estonian capital from November 26-27.
Both the Baltic Event, showcasing Baltic and Finnish projects, and International Works in Progress will compete for the same awards this year: the Post Production Award worth €10,000 and...
The projects selected for Tallinn Black Nights’ industry showcase have been revealed, including a drama executive produced by Tim Roth and a new category for youth films.
Scroll down for full list of projects
This year’s Industry@Tallinn and Baltic Event will spotlight 18 films seeking sales agents or festivals for international premieres during works in progress sessions in the Estonian capital from November 26-27.
Both the Baltic Event, showcasing Baltic and Finnish projects, and International Works in Progress will compete for the same awards this year: the Post Production Award worth €10,000 and...
- 11/6/2019
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
Birgitta Bjornsdottir and Marco Alessi, the producers, respectively, of Cannes Film Festival Critics’ Week title “Woman at War,” and Directors’ Fortnight documentary “Samouni Road,” are among the 20 selected for the 2018 edition of European Film Promotion’s Producers on the Move initiative.
The up-and-coming producers, who must have had production experience and an international film release, are selected by Efp and its members. Hamburg-based Efp is a network of 38 European film and talent organisations. The 19th Producers on the Move runs in Cannes, starting May 10.
Across the five-day event, which is backed by the European Union’s Creative Europe – Media Program, the producers take part in networking and co-production events.
Multiple previous participants in the Producers on the Move program have films in competition in Cannes including Didar Domehri and Vladimer Katcharava who produced Eva Husson’s “Girls of the Sun.” Other alums with Cannes pictures include Tiziana Soudani who produced “Happy as Lazzaro,...
The up-and-coming producers, who must have had production experience and an international film release, are selected by Efp and its members. Hamburg-based Efp is a network of 38 European film and talent organisations. The 19th Producers on the Move runs in Cannes, starting May 10.
Across the five-day event, which is backed by the European Union’s Creative Europe – Media Program, the producers take part in networking and co-production events.
Multiple previous participants in the Producers on the Move program have films in competition in Cannes including Didar Domehri and Vladimer Katcharava who produced Eva Husson’s “Girls of the Sun.” Other alums with Cannes pictures include Tiziana Soudani who produced “Happy as Lazzaro,...
- 4/24/2018
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
This year’s line-up includes producers of A Woman At War and Samouni Road.
20 up-and-coming European producers have been selected for the 2018 edition of European Film Promotion’s (Efp) networking platform Producers on the Move, which takes place at Cannes Film Festival.
As in previous years, the five-day event (May 10-14) will include pitching sessions, one-to-one meetings, case studies and other meetings with the international industry gathered in Cannes.
Two producers from this year’s group will present their films in the festival. A Woman At War by Benedict Erlingsson and co-produced by Iceland’s Birgitta Björnsdóttir will screen in the Critics’ Week.
20 up-and-coming European producers have been selected for the 2018 edition of European Film Promotion’s (Efp) networking platform Producers on the Move, which takes place at Cannes Film Festival.
As in previous years, the five-day event (May 10-14) will include pitching sessions, one-to-one meetings, case studies and other meetings with the international industry gathered in Cannes.
Two producers from this year’s group will present their films in the festival. A Woman At War by Benedict Erlingsson and co-produced by Iceland’s Birgitta Björnsdóttir will screen in the Critics’ Week.
- 4/24/2018
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
Separately, Tribeca selections Elián goes to Gravitas Ventures while From The Ashes lands at National Geographic. Factory 25 takes Tribeca 2016 entry Icaros: A Vision.
Kino Lorber has acquired all North American rights to Tom Of Finland, Dome Karukoski’s biopic about the life and work of Finnish artist and gay icon Touko Laaksonen.
Laaksonen was a pioneer in postwar erotic art whose work inspired the early days of the gay liberation movement and became a symbol for generations of Lgbtq people worldwide.
Pekka Strang, Lauri Tilkanen, Jessica Grabowsky, Taisto Oksanen, Seumas Sargent, Jakob Oftebro and Niklas Hogner star in the Helsinki Film production.
The film’s screenwriter Aleksi Bardy produced alongside Miia Haavisto and Annika Sucksdorff of Helsinki Film.
Gunnar Carlsson of Anagram Väst in Sweden, Miriam Nørgaard of Fridthjof Film in Denmark, and Ingvar Thordarson and Sophie Mahlo of Neutrinos Productions Germany were co-producers, in collaboration with Mike Downey and Sam Taylor of Film and Music Entertainment...
Kino Lorber has acquired all North American rights to Tom Of Finland, Dome Karukoski’s biopic about the life and work of Finnish artist and gay icon Touko Laaksonen.
Laaksonen was a pioneer in postwar erotic art whose work inspired the early days of the gay liberation movement and became a symbol for generations of Lgbtq people worldwide.
Pekka Strang, Lauri Tilkanen, Jessica Grabowsky, Taisto Oksanen, Seumas Sargent, Jakob Oftebro and Niklas Hogner star in the Helsinki Film production.
The film’s screenwriter Aleksi Bardy produced alongside Miia Haavisto and Annika Sucksdorff of Helsinki Film.
Gunnar Carlsson of Anagram Väst in Sweden, Miriam Nørgaard of Fridthjof Film in Denmark, and Ingvar Thordarson and Sophie Mahlo of Neutrinos Productions Germany were co-producers, in collaboration with Mike Downey and Sam Taylor of Film and Music Entertainment...
- 4/13/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Projects participated in the Nordic festival’s works in progress event.
Ruben Ostlund got buyers and festival programmers hopping with excitement in Goteborg as he presented the first footage from his forthcoming fifth feature The Square during the festival’s work in progress pitches.
Ostlund screened about seven minutes from one scene of the new film, during which a controversial performance artist (played by Terry Notary) makes guests at a black-tie art gala very uncomfortable. “You know I love awkward situations,” the director said.
Goteborg’s audience of industry experts commented that they were impressed by the confidence of the unnerving scene, which showed Ostlund working on a bigger scale even than his last hit, Force Majeure.
At a festival session later for the public, Ostlund previewed a second clip from the film, in which a museum director (Claes Bang) delivers a self-centered video apology to a boy he had accused of being a thief.
Another high-profile...
Ruben Ostlund got buyers and festival programmers hopping with excitement in Goteborg as he presented the first footage from his forthcoming fifth feature The Square during the festival’s work in progress pitches.
Ostlund screened about seven minutes from one scene of the new film, during which a controversial performance artist (played by Terry Notary) makes guests at a black-tie art gala very uncomfortable. “You know I love awkward situations,” the director said.
Goteborg’s audience of industry experts commented that they were impressed by the confidence of the unnerving scene, which showed Ostlund working on a bigger scale even than his last hit, Force Majeure.
At a festival session later for the public, Ostlund previewed a second clip from the film, in which a museum director (Claes Bang) delivers a self-centered video apology to a boy he had accused of being a thief.
Another high-profile...
- 2/6/2017
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Dome Karukoski’s biopic will have its world premiere at the Swedish festival.
The world premiere of Dome Karukoski’s Tom Of Finland will open the 2017 Goteborg Film Festival (January 27–February 6).
In honour of the festival’s 40th anniversary, the film will show not only at Goteborg’s Draken cinema but also at a total of 40 locations throughout the region.
The film is a biopic of Touko Laaksonen, the gay art icon who became known as Tom of Finland. The story follows his life as a soldier during the Second World War, through violence and persecution in Helsinki, to liberation in liberal California. Pekka Strang plays the lead role.
“We are very proud about being able to screen Tom Of Finland as the opening film. It’s a beautiful, intelligent and deeply moving portrayal of a fascinating life and a unique artistry. Tom Of Finland is an artistically powerful film possessing great power to attract international attention...
The world premiere of Dome Karukoski’s Tom Of Finland will open the 2017 Goteborg Film Festival (January 27–February 6).
In honour of the festival’s 40th anniversary, the film will show not only at Goteborg’s Draken cinema but also at a total of 40 locations throughout the region.
The film is a biopic of Touko Laaksonen, the gay art icon who became known as Tom of Finland. The story follows his life as a soldier during the Second World War, through violence and persecution in Helsinki, to liberation in liberal California. Pekka Strang plays the lead role.
“We are very proud about being able to screen Tom Of Finland as the opening film. It’s a beautiful, intelligent and deeply moving portrayal of a fascinating life and a unique artistry. Tom Of Finland is an artistically powerful film possessing great power to attract international attention...
- 1/10/2017
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Wendy Mitchell talks to four Finish producers headed to Edinburgh, which is hosting a territory focus on the Scandinavian territory this year.
As part of the Edinburgh International Film Festival’s Finnish focus, four Finnish producers are headed to the festival for meetings and a panel discussion. The wider delegation also includes the filmmakers who have their current films screening in the focus.
Screen caught up with the producers about their new projects during a visit to Helsinki in May.
Helena Mielonen, Bufo Films and B-Plan Distribution
Mielonen runs the marketing department of Mark Lwoff and Misha Jaari’s production...
As part of the Edinburgh International Film Festival’s Finnish focus, four Finnish producers are headed to the festival for meetings and a panel discussion. The wider delegation also includes the filmmakers who have their current films screening in the focus.
Screen caught up with the producers about their new projects during a visit to Helsinki in May.
Helena Mielonen, Bufo Films and B-Plan Distribution
Mielonen runs the marketing department of Mark Lwoff and Misha Jaari’s production...
- 6/16/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Wendy Mitchell talks to four Finish producers headed to Edinburgh, which is hosting a territory focus on the Scandinavian territory this year.
As part of the Edinburgh International Film Festival’s Finnish focus, four Finnish producers are headed to the festival for meetings and a panel discussion. The wider delegation also includes the filmmakers who have their current films screening in the focus.
Screen caught up with the producers about their new projects during a visit to Helsinki in May.
Helena Mielonen, Bufo Films and B-Plan Distribution
Mielonen runs the marketing department of Mark Lwoff and Misha Jaari’s production...
As part of the Edinburgh International Film Festival’s Finnish focus, four Finnish producers are headed to the festival for meetings and a panel discussion. The wider delegation also includes the filmmakers who have their current films screening in the focus.
Screen caught up with the producers about their new projects during a visit to Helsinki in May.
Helena Mielonen, Bufo Films and B-Plan Distribution
Mielonen runs the marketing department of Mark Lwoff and Misha Jaari’s production...
- 6/16/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Drama about the iconic gay artist to shoot in Sweden.
Protagonist Pictures has come on board to handle worldwide sales on Dome Karukoski’s Tom Of Finland, a drama about the life and times of the Finnish, gay artist.
Aleksi Bardy wrote the screenplay for the film, which tells the life story of Touko Laaksonen, a man who would become known around the world by his nom de guerre “Tom Of Finland”.
The cast of the film will be announced during the Berlinale at a press conference on Sunday. Production is due to start this Spring in Gothenberg, Sweden.
The story centres on Laaksonen, who returned home to Helsinki a hero after a harrowing and eventful military service in World War II, but found life during peacetime equally distressing. Persecuted for his homosexuality, he conducted secret affairs and was pressured to marry a woman.
He discovered freedom in his art, specialising in homoerotic...
Protagonist Pictures has come on board to handle worldwide sales on Dome Karukoski’s Tom Of Finland, a drama about the life and times of the Finnish, gay artist.
Aleksi Bardy wrote the screenplay for the film, which tells the life story of Touko Laaksonen, a man who would become known around the world by his nom de guerre “Tom Of Finland”.
The cast of the film will be announced during the Berlinale at a press conference on Sunday. Production is due to start this Spring in Gothenberg, Sweden.
The story centres on Laaksonen, who returned home to Helsinki a hero after a harrowing and eventful military service in World War II, but found life during peacetime equally distressing. Persecuted for his homosexuality, he conducted secret affairs and was pressured to marry a woman.
He discovered freedom in his art, specialising in homoerotic...
- 2/8/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Helsinki-Filmi has come on board Abhay Kumar’s documentary Placebo as a minority co-producer.
The Finnish Film Foundation will finance the sound-post of the documentary to be completed in Finland. An international film is eligible for production financing by the Finnish Film Foundation provided there is a Finnish production company on board. Furthermore, to be eligible for funding, there needs to be local distribution for the film in Finland and also a Finnish artist on board.
Sound designer Micke Nyström, who has worked on award winning films like Pixadores, Bekas and Concerning Violence will work on Placebo and the Finnish Broadcasting company will distribute the film in Finland.
“Miia Haavisto, the producer at Helsinki-filmi watched a rough cut of the film and found it to be engaging enough to have wide international appeal and offered us to help in our post production stage,” said Abhay Kumar.
Placebo will be the...
The Finnish Film Foundation will finance the sound-post of the documentary to be completed in Finland. An international film is eligible for production financing by the Finnish Film Foundation provided there is a Finnish production company on board. Furthermore, to be eligible for funding, there needs to be local distribution for the film in Finland and also a Finnish artist on board.
Sound designer Micke Nyström, who has worked on award winning films like Pixadores, Bekas and Concerning Violence will work on Placebo and the Finnish Broadcasting company will distribute the film in Finland.
“Miia Haavisto, the producer at Helsinki-filmi watched a rough cut of the film and found it to be engaging enough to have wide international appeal and offered us to help in our post production stage,” said Abhay Kumar.
Placebo will be the...
- 6/23/2014
- by Nandita Dutta
- DearCinema.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.